New seeds voucher scheme to help farmers boost harvests

Tens of thousands of drought-stricken families in Ethiopia are being targeted in an innovative voucher scheme which they can cash in for desperately needed seeds. The US-based charity CARE said the seed voucher programme was vital in helping families boost their potential harvests for the coming year. The scheme allows impoverished farmers to buy the seeds they want at the right time rather than imposing a particular type of seed on communities. “The type and value of seeds purchased with the vouchers is left to choice and market conditions,” said Alex Jones, CARE-Ethiopia’s humanitarian support coordinator. “CARE monitors are present to ensure that there is no price fixing between traders or exchange of cash for vouchers,” he added. The vouchers will allow drought-affected farmers to buy between 25 and 30 kg of local seeds of their choice. “In addition to restoring essential elements of choice to beneficiary farmers, the seeds voucher programme aims to reintroduce a greater diversity of crops and varieties thus reducing the vulnerability induced by monoculture,” CARE added. Families in drought-stricken areas in West Haraghe in Oromiya in eastern Ethiopia will receive three vouchers worth around US $2.50 each under the scheme, which is funded by the US government to the tune of US $877,000. The international community has made repeated warnings about the need to get seeds to farmers in drought hotspots around the country. Aid agencies fear that if farmers do not plant enough seeds in the main meher harvesting season for the country – June to September – millions will need food aid again next year. And according to the US government's Famine Early Warning System (FEWS), a major shortfall of seeds still exists in the country. FEWS also warns that the country is facing a fertiliser shortfall – with around a fifth of requirements not available in the country. “These shortfalls, coupled with credit limitations, may reduce potential production during the 2003/4-meher season, even if normal rainfall occurs,” FEWS warned.